Circuitous elevator



.April 25, 1933. H. D. JAMES ET AL 1,905,230

CIRCUITOUS ELEVATdR Filed Jan. 30. 1951 s Sheets-Sheet 1 .April 25, I933. H JAMES ET AL 1,905,230

C IRCUITOUS ELEVATOR Filed Jan. 30. 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 WITNESSES INVENTORS ATTO RNEY Patented Apr. 25, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HENRY D. JAMES, OF EDGEWOOD, AND GILBERT CURRIE, OF FOREST HILLS, PENN- SYLVAN IA, ASSIGNORS T0 WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC AND MANUFACTURING OOH- PANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA CIRCUITOUS ELEVATOR Application filed January 30, 1931. Serial No. 512,291.

Our invention relates to circuitous elevators and it has particular relation to the structure of the load receptacles of the elevator and the method of support thereof.

The term circuitous elevator, as used herein, designates any conveyor structure comprising a. plurality of load receptacles which are movable in an endless circuitous path.

Circuitous elevators have been employed for various applications. One of the applications which has been suggested is the storage or parking of automobiles, whereby a large number of automobiles may be stored upon a comparatively small ground area.

Various types of circuitous elevators for the storage of automobiles have been suggested. one of which is shown, described and claimed in the copending application of H. D. James, Serial No. 330.455, filed January 5, 1929, and assigned to the Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company. It comprises, essentially, a pair of vertically disposed endless chains, each in the form of a loop, movably supported at. top and bottom by sheaves. or sprocket wheels, in spaced parallel relation, and a plurality of slings or receptacles, for holding automobiles, pivotally suspended at regular intervals from and between the chains and movable therewith in an endless or circuitous path.

In this type of circuitous elevator, each sling comprises a. straight horizontally disposed trunnion bar fron'i which are suspended a pair of trackways, by means of substantially rectangular frames at each end thereof sufficient in size to allow an automobile to pass therethrough. The opposite ends of the trunnions engage suitable bearings in bracket arms attached to the endless chains.

In order to prevent the swinging of a sling during movement of the circuitous elevator, and especially during movement of a sling around the sheaves or sprocket wheels, means for interlocking successive cages during movement through the vertical paths, and rotatable arms at. the points of transfer for engaging and steadying the slings during their transfer, are provided.

In order to obviate the necessity for guid- 1n g (IQVIOG'S to prevent the swinging of the slings during movement in the endless ath, we have employed a method of support t erefor which comprises the vertical displacement of the one endless chain without respect to the other, and the support of one end of a receptacle at the top thereof by one endless chain, and the support of the opposite end of the receptacle at the bottom thereof by the other endless chain. It should be understood that such method of support constitutes a part of our invention only in combination with a novel structure of a sling or receptacle which we have devised and which will be described more particularly hereinafter.

It is an. object of our invention, therefore, to construct a load-carrying sling, receptacle, or cage for a circuitous elevator which is of simple construction and permits of ready assembly and disassembly.

It is another object of our invention to provide a load-carrying sling for a circuitous elevator which comprises a trunnion bar having a portion thereof bent through an arc, whereby opposite ends thereof may be connected, respectively, to vertically displaced portions of the two endless chains of the circuitous elevator.

It is a further object of our invention to provide a sling for an automobile-storage conveyor having an improved trackwaythereon for receiving the automobile.

Other objects of our invention will be apparent from the following specification, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a view, in side elevation, of a circuitous elevator showing the cages thereof constructed in accordance with the principles of our invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view, in side eleva tion, of the sling comprising our invention;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view, in end elevation, of a. sling showing the rectangular frame on one end thereof, the structure constituting the opposite end of the sling being omitted for clearness, and

Fig. 5 is a View, in end elevation, showing 13, 14, and 16. I A pair of endless chains '17 and 18, supported at top and bottom by sheaves or sprocket wheels, are provided. The chain 17 is supported, at the top by sheave 19 and at the bottom by sheave 21, and the chain 18 is similarly supported at top and bottom by sheaves 20 and 22. respectively. lhe sheaves are supported from the buildlng structure as immediately'hereinafter described. Each of the vertical runs of the endless chains is substantially surround ed by vertical guide-ways comprising a pair of channel members 23 which cooperate with suitable rollers (not shown) on the chains to define a fixed path of movement for the chains.

The vertically disposed channel members 23 are supported, on the horizontally disposed structural member 13. by means of transversely disposed channels 24 which are welded or otherwise suitably fastened to the channels 23 and the member 13. Additional support is imparted to the channels 23, in the upper portions thereof. by the structural members 14 to which the channels 23 are welded or suitably fastened.

Bearing members for supporting the. sheaves 19, 20, 21 and 22 are supported by transverse. horizontally-disposed channel members 25 which are welded or otherwise suitably fastened to the channels 23.

Any suitable mechanism for causing simultaneous movement of the two endless chains at the same speed may be provided. We have illustrated. in Fig. 1, a simple mechanism for accomplishing this result, comprising a pair of sprocket wheels 26 having such diameter as to cause them to engage the adjacent vertically-extending portions of the same endless chain and effect their movement simultaneously in opposite directions. The sprocket wheels 26 are keyed, or otherwise suitably fastened, to an axle or shaft 27 to which a gear wheel 28 is similarly fastened. A motor 29, supported on a suitable platform 30 attached to the building structure, causes rotation of the gear wheel 28 through a gear drive comprising the intermediate pinion gear wheels 31 and 31a and a gear wheel 32. The pinion gear wheel 31 is keyed or splined to the shaft 33 of the motor 29 and engages the gear wheel 32 that is keyed to the same shaft as is the pinion gear wheel 31a which engages the gear wheel 28.

A plurality of slings, cages or receptacles 34, for holding automobiles, are rovided. Each sling is pivotally suspended rom and between the endless chains 17 and 18 by means of pairs of laminated angularly disposed bracket arms 48 pivotallyattached, at regular intervals, to the endless chains to be engaged by pins or trunnions on the slings. The details of such bracket arms for supporting the slings are shown in detail in the copending application of H. D. James, Serial No. 330,455, above mentioned. The slings are thus movably supported for movement in an endless path past a doorway 9 at the ground level of the building structure.

Appreciating the fact that it is unneces sary to provide more than one entrance to a sling, we have devised a novel structure which permits entrance thereto fromone end only. The structure which we have devised is economical of materials, rigid in structure, may be simply and readily manufactured, and permits the slings to be shipped in a disassembled state and readily assembled in the field.

Referring to Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5, each of the slings 34 comprises a load-carrying platform preferably comprising a pair of parallel horizontally-disposed trackways 35 which I are rigidly connected by transverse beams or bars 41 welded or otherwise suitably attached thereto. The trackways 35 are of arcuate shape in transverse section for the purpose of preventing abrasion of the tires of an automobile, as well as aiding in the proper positioning of the automobiles in the trackways. In a circuitous elevator adapted for automobile storage, it is desirable that the automobile be properly balanced with respect to the longitudinal axis of the slings, and trackways, having an arcuate transverse section, are employed to effect this result.

Trackways having an arcuate transverse section are broadly old, but, in accordance with the present improvement, longitudinally extending flanges are provided, asmore clearly shown in Fig. 5, which desirably reinforce the trackway structure, thereby permitting a reduction in the thickness of the trackway material, and effecting a reduction in the weight of the sling. Further, the flanges serve as a convenient place to attach a drip pan or fire-insulating sheath 60 which may be disposed between the trackways. The drip pan or sheath 60 is preferably of corrugated cross section to reduce the noise incident to the movement of the slings.

We have found that the trackways 35 may be readily manufactured by bending or stamping a plate of suitable dimensions and strength into the shape desired, and flaring out one end, as at 36 in Fig. 3, to facilitate the entrance of automobile wheels thereinto. By employing trackways having flanges, we are enabled to secure a bending strength thereof which is greater than that of trackways not provided with flanges, even though the same thickness of. plate is employed in the two types of trackways. Alternatively, trackways of equal bending strengths are obtainable although a lesser thickness of plate is employed in the trackway having the flanges. l/Ve employ trackways having a lesser thickness of plate in order to reduce the weight of the trackways and, as a result, the weight of the slings.

A trunnion bar or shaft 37 is provided for supporting the trackways 35 of each of the slings, extending parallel to the trackway for a portion of its length and, for the remainder of its length, and bending through an arc of substantially 90 to intersect the horizontal plane of the trackways. We have found that the trunnion bar 37 may be easily con structed by bending a pipe of suitable strength and dimensions and have illustrated it as so constituted. However, it should be understood that any structural equivalent may be employed in substitution therefor.

The trackways 35 are supported, at one end thereof, by a substantially rectangular frame 38 suspended from the horizontal end of the trunnion bar 37. The frame 38 encloses an area suflicient in size to allow an automobile to pass therethrough. We prefer to construct the frame 38 by bending a pipe of suitable dimensions and strength to the desired contour, although it should be understood that any structural equivalent may be employed. The bottom side of the frame 38 is rigidly attached to the bars 41, connecting the two trackways, by U-bolts 41, or other suitable means.

The frame 38 is suspended from the trunnion bar 37 by means of a web plate 40 having a contour conforming to the inner contour of the upper portion of the frame and welded thereto. A hole 39 of suitable diameter is provided in the plate 40 to permit the trunnion 37 to extend therethrough and be suitably secured to the plate, as by welding.

Struts 42 are provided for supporting the opposite ends of the trackways from the trunnion 37 and, incidently, constitute a buffer which is engageable by the front bumper of an automobile to prevent the radiator or hood portion thereof from striking the trunnion bar 37. A suitable clamp 43, attached to the arcuate portion of the trunnion bar 37, is provided with laterally projeeting lugs on each side thereof to which the ends of the struts are respectively bolted. An angle bar 44, having two relatively perpendicular flanges, is so disposed that one of the flanges engages the under surfaces of the trackways 35, to which it is bolted. The struts 42 extend downwardly from the clamp 43 and outwardly to the trackways 35 and are bolted to the vertically disposed flange of the angle bar at points therein, substantially in alignment, respectively, with the longitudinal axes of the traekways 35.

A further support, for maintaining a rigid relation between the trunnion bar 37 and the trackways 35, comprises a rectangular plate 45 which is welded or otherwise suitably secured to the horizontal flange of the angle bar 44 midway between the trackways 35, and has a portion thereof cut out to allow the trunnion bar 37 to fit therein and be welded thereto.

Suitable trunnions or pins 46 and 47 are retained in the ends of the trunnion bar 37 for engaging the bracket members 48 by which the slings 34 are supported from the endless chains 17 and 18. Both pins are horizontally disposed; the pin 46 being suitably secured in the horizontal end of the trunnion bar 37, and the pin 47 being inserted in a suitable hole through the trunnion bar 37 and suitably welded thereto.

In order to prevent the movement of an automobile relative to the trackways when supported on a sling, and also to properly position the automobile relative to the transverse axis of the sling, a raised portion 49 is provided in each trackway over which the wheels of an automobile must pass before it is properly positioned.

Angle bars 50 extend transversely across the trackways 35 adjacent to the inner ends thereof to limit the movement of the automobile wheels after they have passed over the raised portions 49 and thus, in cooperation therewith, maintain the automobiles upon the trackways.

A buffer, as shown in Fig. 1, for resiliently preventing substantial longitudinal movement of a sling in the direction of movement of an automobile as it enters, is provided at the entrance level of the elevator. The buffer comprises, essentially, a bellcrank lever having a short arm 52 and a comparatively long arm 53. The bell-crank lever is pivotally mounted at the point 54 on the lower extremity of one of the chain guides 23, by any suitable means, in such position that the arm 53 extends downwardly to the level of the supporting pin 47 on a sling. A compression spring 55, suitably supported between the short arm 52 of the bell-crank lever and an angle bracket 56 suitably attached to the guide member 23, a short distance above the point 54, is provided for the purpose of biasing the end of the long arm 53 into engagement with the end of the pin 47 and resiliently preventing such substantial longitudinal movement of a sling as might result if the bumpers of an automobile should violently strike the struts 42 on the sling, upon the entrance of an automobile.

A buffer, as just described, prevents the breaking of the bracket arms 48 when an automobile is carelessly driven into a sling.

In loading an automobile upon a sling,

the trackwa s 35 at the level of the floor 10.

5 The automo ile is then moved or driven directly through the doorway and frame 38 upon the trackways 35 until the front wheels thereof are properly positioned with respect thereto, as determined by the raised portions49 and the angle bar stops 50. Since the front portion of an automobile is low, the arcuate structure of the trunnion bar 37 is not objectionable.

The construction of the slings and the v method of support is such that a small lateral movement of the end of a sling is possible. This results in a distinct advantage in that it avoids the necessity of excessive care in the proper alignment of both the 'front and the rear wheels of an automobile with the trackways, prior to entering the sling. That is, a driver, approaching the trackways at an angle, may, .with ordinary care, cause the front wheels of his automobile to enter the trackways, but if a sling is rigidly supported at the loading position, he finds 1t is necessary to back out and properly align both front and rear wheels, in the event that the rear wheels are not properly aligned. Such annoyance, inconvenience and unnecessary delay is obviated by the structure which we employ, since once the front wheels have entered the trackways, the latter automatically assume a position whereby the rear wheels may enter them.

Upon movement. of the circuitous elevator, there is no objectionable swaying or swinging of the slings, such movements being prevented by supporting the slings at the top on one end and at the bottom on the opposite end thereof.

It will, therefore, be seen that we have provided a load-carrying sling for a circui-' tous elevator adapted particularly for the 15 storage of automobiles, the sling having a.

novel structure which enables a method of operation having numerous advantages over prior-art structures of similar nature.

It will be further seen that we have pro-. vided a load-carrying sling for a circuitous elevator adapted for shipment in a disassellnibled state. and for ready assembly in the fie It .will also be seen that we have provided 'a load-carrying sling for acircuitous elevator which may be simply and economically constructed and which has flanged trackways whereby the weight thereof is considerably reduced over prior-art structures.

We have illustrated only one embodiment of our invention but it is understood that it is capable of various modifications without a departure from the spirit and scope thereof. We desire therefore, that only such limitations shall be imposed thereon as are ne- .of the ap cessitated by the prior art and by the scope nded claims. We claim as our invention: 1. In a conveyor, a pluralit of load-car rymg slings movable in men ess path, each of said slings comprising a horizontally disposed platform, a trunnion bar for supporting said platform extending horizontally for a portion of its length arallel to said platform and for the remain er of its le h cut through an arc to intersect said p tform adjacent one end thereof to support it at one end, a substantiall rectangular frame at the other end of said platform for permitting the entrance or exit of loads to and from said sling, and means for securing the respective ends of said trunnion bar to said platform and frame.

2. In a conveyor, a pair of endless flexible members disposed in parallel s aced relation, means for supportin sai endless members for movement in a circuitous path, a plurality of load-carrying slings, means for pivotally sus nding said slings from and between said pair of endless flexible members, said means comprisin a trunnion bar for each slingextendin horizontally for a portion of its length and or the remainder of its length through an arc, and means connecting the opposite ends of said trunnion bar to said endless flexible members, respectively, thereof.

3. In a conveyor, a pair of endless flexible members disposed vertically in spaced parallel relation, means for supporting said endless members for movement in similar at. vertically displaced portions endless paths vertically displaced from each to said respective endless members at vertically displaced portions thereof.

4. In a load-carrying sling for a conveyor,

a horizontally disposed platform, a trunnion bar for supporting said platform extending parallel to said platform for a portion of its len h and through an are for the remainder of 1ts length to intersect the plane of said platform adjacent to one end of the platform, means for securing said platform to said arcuate portion, and means for securing the opposite end of said latform to the opposite end of said trunnion ar, said last-mentioned means comprising a substantially rectangular frame secured to said platform and to'said trunnion bar.

5. In an automobile receptacle -for anautomobile storage device, a pair of horizontally disposed trackways for cooperation with the wheels of anautomobi le, a trunnion bar for supporting said trackways extending parallel thereto for a portion of its length and through an are for the remainder of its length whereby it intersects the plane of said trackways, means for securing the corresponding ends of said trackways to the armate portion of said trunnion bar, and means for supporting the opposite ends of said trackways from the opposite end of said trunnion bar which comprises a substantially rectangular frame, enclosing an area suflicient to allow any automobile to pass therethrough, secured to said trackways and said bar.

6. A load-carrying sling for a conveyor, said sling including a pair of one-piece channel members disposed in spaced parallel relation, said channel members being of sheet material formed into a substantially semicircular transverse eontour, with the opposite longitudinal edges terminating only in substantially horizontal flanges for efl'ecting a maximum bending strength of said channel members with a predetermined thickness of the sheet material.

7. In a circuitous elevator, a pair of endless fiexible members disposed verticallyin spaced parallel planes, a plurality of loadsupports, bracket arms for pivotally supporting said load-supports from said endless flexible members, and buffer means stationarily disposed adjacent the lowermost extremity of the flexible members for engaging a load-support at that point and resisting a movement of said load-support in the direction of its longitudinal axis whereby the breaking of the bracket arms for said load-support is prevented.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto subscribed our names this 22nd day of January, 1931.

HENRY D. JAMES. GILBERT CURRIE. 

